Page 107 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
of the site, a level of loss was unavoidable to accommodate the need for modernisation. For one thing, the grass centre yard of the Unit lines in Aldershot disappeared to be replaced with a concrete standing, laid so that eleven semi-per- manent kennels could be placed there bringing the site capacity up to twenty which allowed an overseas dog draft to be assembled there pending flights. This move also benefitted Melton Mowbray as it allowed much more space for intake dogs.
Tactical Dog Troop
More importantly the same edition, from 1967, makes the first reference to the Strategic Reserve with the aforementioned Major John Clifford. His combined titles – Commandant School and Stores, OC Tactical Dog Troop and AVRO Eastern and Southern Commands – meant that Major Clifford spent a lot of his time buzzing around the countryside in a car or a helicopter spreading the gospel about War Dogs to all and sundry. An article in the autumn issue of Chiron Calling, headed, Dog Troop Korea, outlined that there was a ‘previous dog troop’ which, it said, was formed for five years and then disbanded after the Korean Conflict in late 1956, when many of the dogs and RAVC handlers were moved to Singapore. However, as was touched on earlier in this chapter, the later version of the Tactical Dog Troop arrived in Aldershot in September 1966, its origins dating back to 1963 when Clifford was posted to MOD as DADAVRS where he was fully concerned with the adminis- tration of the Corps within the Army. It gave him an opportunity to research MOD Policy for the military’s use and supply of dogs and handlers, particularly where emerging contingencies were concerned.
It was his research in the archives at Droitwich that unearthed an MOD file dating from World War Two which described an RAVC Unit designed to hold a small number of dogs and handlers in peacetime in the UK in reserve, ready to provide immediate availability for use in emergency. This had been fully authorised at the end of the war, but not implemented on cessation of hostilities because of financial cutbacks at the time. The file contained the authorised “WAR” Establishment Number and Name for this Unit – it was for a “Tactical Dog Troop RAVC.” On discovering this file, Clifford, with approval of DAVRS, then approached MOD Main Staff with the proposal that this established Unit should be re-instated in the ORBAT. After protracted and difficult negoti- ations and with some modification, this proposal was approved in 1965 resulting in additional
manpower being authorised to the RAVC and implemented in 1966. It would be located in the “heart” of the Army, where it would be seen and not forgotten.
Initially, the Tactical Dog Troop was implemented with a WO2 IC, CSM Colin Brown, who as a Sergeant had been an instructor in Malaya in 1957, one Cpl Marsh Revell, six Privates and fourteen Army Dogs, a mixture of Guard, Security, Tracker and IP dogs. The Troop being implemented was available for Ops and Exercises as part of the Strategic Reserve, used mainly in conjunction with and regularly alongside the School of Infantry, and with the AAC to familiarise Army Air Crew with dogs as passengers.
Early in the Troop’s existence a week-long Exercise, involving a full Infantry brigade, was carried out at Otterburn. During the Exercise they provided Tracker and IP Dog teams for demon- strations and taskings and when initiated, the Troop was required to be deployed at full strength. John Clifford accordingly indented for two Land Rovers, both self-drive, to retain independence but an interim delivery of two self-drive civilian vans – specifically VW mini-vans coloured half and half, yellow and pale blue – arrived. Despite the obvious ‘visual’ drawback, the Troop, CSM, seven ORs, seven assorted dogs and Major Clifford duly set off one afternoon for Otterburn.
It was the following day, as the Troop was going through early morning administration, that they were ‘buzzed’ by an AAC helicopter but thought nothing of it. About one hour later, Clifford’s presence was requested at Bde HQ where he was called in front of a very angry Brigadier who on return from an overview flight of his exercise area, had demanded to know from his staff, why ‘two civilian ice-cream vans’ were cluttering up his Exercise? John Clifford explained the situation regarding the odd-coloured temporary transport and the Brigadier said that he was very pleased with the Troop’s presence and the good work that they could do within the Bde, but he insisted that something had to be done about the equipment provided! He said that he would see what he could do when he returned to Southern Command.
As a result, JC was called to the GOC Strategic Reserve at Southern Command who, having agreed the Operational need for the Troop to function properly, asked him what he needed to fulfil the task. Clifford explained the need for LWB LR (Long Wheel Based Land Rover) to be issued for permanent use and, making the most of the opportunity, he asked for extra equipment. Knowing that each member of the Troop had
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